Finding Relief Naturally: Supplements for Pain & Inflammation

by Joy Choquette | July 1, 2026

Trends, key ingredients and lifestyle changes that may help.

Acute pain vs. chronic pain: Is it a chicken and egg scenario? Does one lead to the other? And do either or both lead to chronic disease? One thing is for sure: more individuals in America are seeking help for their pain symptoms, whether at their doctor’s office, the pharmacy or through their natural health practitioner.

What is most important for natural practitioners to know about healthy alternatives on the market now? What trends are occurring in this market, and what ingredients are most important that might help ease pain and inflammation?

Acute and Chronic Pain: Do They Lead to Chronic Disease?

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, has a practice in Hawaii and is the author of the new book Pain Relief in 4 Simple Steps. When asked if acute and chronic pain and inflammation were related to chronic disease, Dr. Teitelbaum stated that both are two of the most important triggers of chronic disease. These play “critical roles in heart disease, dementia, stroke, diabetes, depression, anxiety and numerous other chronic diseases,” he said.

“Chronic pain causes profound long-term problems,” Dr. Teitelbaum continued, noting that it is associated with anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders two out of three times. “Having at least five areas of pain, which is common, is associated with the brain showing signs of being eight years older than its chronological age.”1 Dr. Teitelbaum said, “This translates roughly to over 10 million potentially preventable cases of overt dementia instead of mild cognitive impairment caused by chronic pain.” Why is this? “Because chronic pain triggers a form of brain inflammation called microglial activation. Which is very preventable using natural remedies,” he explained.

Key Lifestyle Habits Experts Recommend

Dr. Teitelbaum’s protocol of lifestyle changes for someone dealing with chronic pain is clear and minimal. “Simple measures that decrease inflammation include cutting down sugar and white flour intake, switching from grain-fed to grass-fed meat,” he said. Additionally, he recommends that individuals increase fish and other omega-3 oil intakes and go for walks in the sunshine.

Ingredients, Supplements and Devices That May Help With Chronic Pain & Inflammation

“The research shows a simple and very powerful natural combination to eliminate pain and balance excess inflammation,” said Dr. Teitelbaum. “I use a potent trio made by EuroMedica.” This includes CuraPhen, which Dr. Teitelbaum refers to as “a pain relief miracle” and which he considers foundational in balancing inflammation in the body. The second part of the trio focuses on the brain. “Chronic pain lasting over three months routinely triggers a severe form of brain inflammation called microglial activation. Addressing this using PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) not only dramatically decreases pain but may decrease the associated dementia and other problems caused by chronic pain,” he stated. However, PEA is poorly absorbed, noted Dr. Teitelbaum. “Because of this, I only use the high absorption form called PEA Healthy Inflammation Response,” he said. The third part of the trio is to increase the omega-3 intake. “An easy way to do this is with EurOmega-3,” he said, noting that one to two capsules a day replace seven to 14 large fish oil pills.

Chief of Scientific Affairs and Education at the manufacturer EuroMedica, Inc., in Wisconsin, Cheryl Myers, noted, “One of our most successful supplements for pain and inflammation is PEA Healthy Inflammation Response.” She said that this combination supplement of palmitoylethanolamide and serratiopeptidase may help relieve pain and support an active life.

“Palmitoylethanolamide, commonly abbreviated to PEA, has endocannabinoid-like actions in the body, and as a result, is an effective anti-inflammatory and has direct impact on nerve tissue as well,” said Myers. “And because of this, researchers have investigated its ability to relieve pain in a variety of conditions, including cases of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, neuropathy and osteoarthritis.”

Celine Torres-Moon is senior scientist at the manufacturer, Protocol For Life Balance, based in Illinois. When it comes to key ingredients, she noted, “Botanicals such as turmeric, boswellia, willow bark and ginger; enzymes such as bromelain, and nutrients such as omega-3s are ingredients that can be combined to support a healthy response to immune stress.”

Kimberly Gerhard is a U.S sales representative for Pharma Nord, a manufacturer with headquarters in Denmark. She stated that practitioners should reiterate to their patients that pain and inflammation are not one-lane issues, but instead are influenced by biomechanics, recovery, sleep, stress, nutrition, oxidative stress and metabolic health. “When choosing supplements, quality matters,” said Gerhard. “The form, absorption, dose and clinical documentation behind the exact product should matter just as much as the ingredient name. Two CoQ10 products, for example, are not automatically equivalent. CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so formulation and bioavailability are key,” explained Gerhard. “Practitioners should also be careful not to overpromise. Current evidence for many natural products in musculoskeletal pain is mixed or limited, so the best approach is to educate, support the body’s systems, and work alongside appropriate medical care when needed,” she said.

At Boiron USA, a manufacturer in Pennsylvania, Christophe Merville serves as the director of education and pharmacy development. He stated that patients today are looking for products with ingredients that are familiar to them, clear directions, and formats that are convenient to use. “Arnica continues to be a well-recognized ingredient in the topical wellness category, especially for muscle soreness, stiffness and bruising associated with everyday activities or exercise,” he said.

Merville noted that the company offers a range of homeopathic options that include arnica, both topically and in pellet form. “The tablet form can be taken without water at the onset of arthritis flare-ups, when the weather changes, for instance,” he said. “The topical form Arnicare Arthritis Cream allows local relief, quickly absorbs into the skin, and is unscented.” The products all display clear drug facts with dosages and warnings, Merville noted. “They do not interfere with other treatments and have a very low risk of side effects.”

Chronic Pain vs. Acute Pain: Are Different Treatments Required?

Joel Adams is the founder and CEO of First Person Solutions, LLC, dba CelWel. The company, which is based in Pennsylvania, purports to support the body’s natural balance through a natural botanical formula. “CelWel is not pain relief,” noted Adams, “CelWel is an immune system modulator which prevents inflammation that can cause joint and muscle pain in chronic conditions.” He explained that there isn’t a one-to-one relationship between pain and inflammation. “For example, inflammation in the brain can cause brain fog and Alzheimer’s disease, which is not normally described as ‘pain,’” said Adams. “Multiple products may be used to stop some inflammation and pain. For example, both aspirin and Tylenol are frequently used to treat headaches.” Pain, then, is in a different category than inflammation, yet the two are linked.

Gerhard believes that acute and chronic pain are not only very different in nature, but they also require different approaches. “Acute pain usually has a clear trigger, such as exercise, injury or strain, so support is often focused on short-term recovery, circulation, tissue repair and calming the immediate inflammatory response,” said Gerhard. Chronic pain, on the other hand, usually involves longer cycles of inflammation, oxidative stress, poor recovery, metabolic stress and sometimes mitochondrial dysfunction. “For chronic concerns, we think beyond ‘pain relief’ and look at the terrain: cellular energy, antioxidant defense, nutrient status, sleep, movement and inflammation balance,” said Gerhard. “CoQ10 fits naturally into this conversation because it supports mitochondrial energy production and also functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant,” she stated.

Said Merville, “From a pharmacist’s perspective, the approach depends on the individual, the cause of the discomfort, and how long symptoms have been present. For short-term muscle soreness, stiffness, bruising or overexertion, patients often look for topical options that are easy to apply and fit into their daily routines,” he noted. “Longer-term concerns typically involve a broader wellness approach that may include lifestyle changes, movement therapies and ongoing conversations with health care professionals.”

Torres-Moon stated, “Chronic and acute pains have different physiopathology and require different interventions.” She explained that chronic pain is considered a disease and is, therefore, out of the scope of dietary supplement use from a regulatory standpoint in the United States. “Dietary supplements can be used to alleviate mild, temporary acute pain due to overexertion or menstruation.”

At Hue Light USA, a manufacturer based in New York, President Dean Capawana stated that pain, stiffness, soreness and inflammation-related discomfort can interfere with mobility, recovery, sleep and overall quality of life. “As more people seek non-invasive ways to support the body, advanced wellness technologies are becoming an important part of modern recovery and longevity programs,” he noted. The company offers a whole-body approach, which may help the body relax, recover and restore balance, said Capawana. “Rather than focusing on one therapy alone, Hue Light USA combines complementary technologies that support circulation, cellular energy, oxygenation, antioxidant activity and physical resilience,” he said.

Trends of Note

Myers noted that the company is seeing a greater demand for solutions to nerve pain and other hard-to-treat chronic conditions, which, left to their own devices, tend to amplify the brain’s response to pain signals. “That is, rather than becoming ‘used to’ the pain, patients become more agitated by it as time goes on. I believe that’s one of the reasons that our PEA Healthy Inflammation Response has been so well received. It allows practitioners and patients a highly effective intervention for nerve and brain pain with ingredients that have shown great results in clinical settings.”

For acute pain, Myers explained that there is now greater public awareness that over-the-counter and prescription solutions aren’t always benign. “Yes, they can relieve symptoms, no doubt about it, but they can also cause a great deal of damage to the liver and stomach, and even to a person’s mental outlook,” she said. “So, there are definitely people seeking effective alternatives that don’t put their health at risk, and in fact, because of their ingredients, offer side benefits rather than side effects.”

At Pharma Nord, Gerhard explained that the company is seeing a change in the market. “We are seeing a shift away from ‘quick-fix’ pain products and toward cellular health, healthy aging, recovery and inflammation resilience,” Gerhard explained. Additionally, she noted, “Consumers are becoming more educated. They want to know why they feel tired, sore, inflamed, or slower to recover. That opens the door for conversations around mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and nutrient support.”

“We’ve seen continued interest in topical wellness products that are convenient, easy-to-use, and fit into active lifestyles. Patients are also looking for versatile formats that they can use at home, at work or after physical activity,” Merville stated. “Boiron meets these preferences by offering a variety of formats within the Arnicare line, including gels, creams, tablets and roll-ons, giving consumers options that fit easily into different routines and lifestyles. There’s also a growing focus on recovery and self-care routines, particularly among those who are prioritizing mobility and everyday wellness.”

At THINNR, a manufacturer in Florida, Matthew Melnick, co-founder, weighed in on trends. “The biggest trend we’re seeing—and acting on—is the convergence of weight management and inflammation management in clinical practice,” he said. “Practitioners across the country, particularly in natural health, functional medicine, integrative health and med spa settings, are recognizing that they can’t effectively address their patients’ core concerns without also addressing metabolic health and body composition. For natural health and functional medicine practitioners, that means chronic pain and systemic inflammation. For integrative providers, it’s the full picture of long-term wellness. And for med spas, it’s skin health—conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and premature aging are directly fueled by chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” said Melnick. “You simply cannot deliver optimal aesthetic outcomes when a patient’s body is in an inflammatory state from the inside out.”

What Every Natural Health Practitioner Should Know About Must-have Options

Natural practitioners have an important role in their patients’ health. They also juggle many things both inside and outside of their practices. If there were a condensed version of what essentials a practitioner should know about pain and inflammation options, what might that include?

Torres-Moon explained that naturopaths should know that, because of FDA/FTC (U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Federal Trade Commission) regulatory restrictions in the United States, dietary supplement brands are very limited in the types of claims they can make on product labels and branded literature at their destination regarding pain and inflammation. “It is important that they educate themselves about existing pain and inflammation remedies and then recommend products based on their research, not necessarily on product label claims,” she said. “Typically, if a dietary supplement brand makes extensive pain and inflammation claims on its label and in its communications to practitioners, it means it does not comply with current FDA/FTC regulations, which should constitute a red flag regarding the brand’s credibility.”

Gerhard noted that Pharma Nord believes that this “must-have” category should include products that support the body’s resilience, not just those marketed for symptom relief. “For Pharma Nord, CoQ10 is central because pain and inflammation are energy-demanding processes,” she said. “The body needs ATP to repair, recover and regulate inflammation. CoQ10 supports mitochondrial ATP production and helps protect cells from oxidative stress,” said Gerhard. Additionally, the manufacturer looks at antioxidant nutrients like selenium, which is required for important selenoproteins involved in antioxidant defense, including glutathione peroxidases,” Gerhard explained. “Chromium may also play a supporting role in metabolic balance, particularly when cravings and overall metabolic function are part of the broader inflammation picture, though evidence varies depending on the population,” she said.

At THINNR, Melnick stated that the single most important thing practitioners should understand is that inflammation is rarely an isolated problem. “It’s a systemic condition, and it’s almost always connected to metabolic health, body composition and nutrition,” he said. “Excess body fat—particularly visceral adipose tissue—is one of the most potent drivers of chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body,” Melnick explained that adipose tissue is not inert storage; it’s metabolically active and produces pro-inflammatory cytokines that directly contribute to pain, joint degeneration and impaired healing. “This means that any serious conversation about managing chronic pain and inflammation in your practice needs to include a conversation about weight management,” he said.

Adams noted, “CelWel is arguably the first new anti-inflammatory to be introduced in the last 50 years. CelWel prevents the immune system from creating inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by interrupting the molecular signaling.”

Merville noted, “It’s important for practitioners to understand how patients are using these products in everyday life.

Patients are increasingly interested in integrative approaches and often want options that can complement exercise recovery, mobility and overall wellness routines,” he said. “Pharmacists can help guide appropriate product selection by focusing on safety, quality, ease of use, and setting realistic expectations for consumers.”

“I think most practitioners already keep in mind one of the most important things to know, which is that there is no ‘one size fits all’ option when it comes to pain relief. Yes, there are general anti-inflammatory nutrients that show consistent results, but everyone’s situation is different, and one patient can respond to something completely differently than another,” Myers noted. “That’s why it’s a good idea to consider a spectrum of natural inflammation-fighting medicines when determining the best protocol. And not to be afraid to change dosage levels or supplements altogether if the situation warrants it.”

Pain and inflammation are important conditions that natural practitioners deal with on a regular basis. Trends in this category, new approaches or supplements which may help alleviate pain and inflammation, and changes a person could make are all important steps on the journey.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Reference:

1 W. Zhao, L. Zhao, X. Chang, X. Lu, & Y. Tu, Elevated dementia risk, cognitive decline, and hippocampal atrophy in multisite chronic pain, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 120 (9) e2215192120, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2215192120 (2023).

Healthy Take Aways

• Chronic pain can cause long-term health problems and is often associated with depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.
• Inflammation is rarely an isolated issue.
• Options for pain relief are varied: topical and internal delivery systems can help with different types of pain or inflammation.
• Cutting down on sugar and white flour foods and swapping out grain-fed meat for grass-fed meat may help reduce inflammation.
• Because inflammation may be caused by several factors, it’s important to support whole-body resilience.